Premier League 2017/18 Specials: Betting Tips

As the Premier League kicks off this weekend, the spotlight will be on the big-money signings and which clubs might challenge for the title, as well as the contenders for relegation and the most likely top scorers. However, there are a host of other betting opportunities for punters who are prepared to avert their gaze away from the main markets.

Rafa Benitez and Mark Hughes top the betting after frustrating summers for Newcastle United and Stoke City respectively, and both men will be desperate to bring in reinforcements before the transfer window closes otherwise they could decide to move on by early September.

The question of which manager might get fired first is a different matter. New bosses such as Frank de Boer, Marco Silva and Mauricio Pochettino are likely to be given a bit of time unless things go disastrously, so a better punt might be Leicester City’s Craig Shakespeare. He was rewarded with a permanent job after keeping the Foxes up last season, but impatient owners could start looking for a bigger name if the early results aren’t great, and Leicester’s first six fixtures include matches against Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

There is no surprise to see title contenders such as Manchester City and Manchester United among the favourites to make fast starts, but there are some decent odds further down for bettors who might like to take a bit of a punt. Southampton, for instance, start with consecutive home games against Swansea City and West Ham United, before visiting newly-promoted Huddersfield Town. It is not inconceivable to think they could stand at nine points out of a possible nine by the end of the month, making Paddy Power’s price of 13/1 an interesting option. West Brom, who have home games against Bournemouth and Stoke and also travel to Burnley, offer even an even better potential return at 19/1.

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne and Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Christian Eriksen should be among the assist kings yet again this season as they perform integral roles for attacking teams, but the odds may deter some fans. Henrikh Mkhitaryan only showed flashes of his best form during his first year at Manchester United but, having set up 29 goals the previous season at Borussia Dortmund, could be one to watch at 9/1. Cesc Fabregas was not a regular starter at Chelsea last term but is so creative that a price of 10/1 will get a lot of interest, while Eden Hazard is languishing down at 16/1.

Predicting the final table might be a tricky exercise, but punters have the option to pick between virtually any two teams and wager on which one will do best. Sports.net is tipping Bournemouth to have a decent season, with Jermain Defoe adding to the firepower already at their disposal and Eddie Howe continuing to enhance his managerial reputation. It may be a big ask for them to finish above an Everton side that has spent heavily, but if you agree that the Cherries could be the best of the rest this season then you could put down a series of bets on them to end up higher than mid-table rivals such as Southampton, Leicester, West Ham, Stoke and West Brom.

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